Particulate media conveying systems and apparatuses

ABSTRACT

Novel systems and apparatuses for conveying particulate media are disclosed. One such system may include a conveying tank configured to receive media and push it out to a media distribution valve to be distributed to any desired destination. The media distribution valve is preferably a multi-port, pinch valve having a drain to dump any residual media not distributed through the distribution valve. One or more blast dispensers may be in communication with the media distribution valve. Each blast dispenser may be in communication with a blast chamber, which also may be in communication with the media distribution valve. A screen classifier may be in communication with the media distribution valve to receive and screen media from the blast chamber, for example, before being conveyed, if desired, through one or more conveying tanks through the media distribution valve.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser.No. 13/780,790 filed on Feb. 28, 2013 entitled “Particulate MediaConveying Systems and Apparatuses,” the entire contents of which arehereby incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates generally to conveying technologies andparticularly to particulate media conveying systems and apparatuses.

Myriad techniques exist to convey particulate media in many differentindustries. One technique involves pneumatic conveying typically usedfor bulk solids. These systems may be categorized as vacuum or negativepressure, positive pressure, or a combination of the two. They can beoperated in dilute-phase where there is a lot of air and the media movesquickly, or in dense-phase where the media moves slowly or in gulps.

Vacuum systems are limited to a 15 psi pressure differential (absolutevacuum) so they are limited in how hard they can pull the media along,but this technique is by far the most common way to conveypneumatically. Very low bulk density materials will get blown around ineven the slightest breeze. Cereals, powders, and grains are also easilymoved with vacuum. As the intake is atmospheric, a pick-up wand may bepushed down into the bulk solid and it will get vacuumed up. However,materials with higher bulk density, such as steel shot that isphysically dense and aerodynamic, will not convey or convey very slowly.Indeed, a vertical vacuum pipe will have a hard time lifting a heavy andaerodynamic particle because the air just goes around it.

Positive pressure conveying systems are not limited to 15 psi. The mediato be conveyed is put into a closed vessel that is subsequentlypressurized. The vessel is typically shaped so the pressurized air triesto escape the vessel through the media, pushing the media along.

Screw conveyors are another popular conveying technology. A long pipehas a helical feed wire or screw put down the middle. Turning either thescrew (typical) or tube (rare) will cause media to feed up the tube. Thetube has a limit to how steep it can be, particularly with free-flowingmaterials.

Bucket elevators are large and mechanically complex systems where aseries of buckets ride along on a pair of chains. The buckets are passedunder a pick-up station where media is deposited. The buckets thenfollow the conveyor, usually upwards and sideways only, to a singledrop-off station where the buckets are inverted. Such systems are quitevaried. For example, some may be belt driven, employ a continuous beltinstead of buckets, manufactured from a variety of different materials,etc.

The vast majority of particulate media conveying systems for shotpeening use vacuum conveying or bucket elevators. Vacuum conveyinglimits these systems to using smaller media, as larger media will notconvey up long vertical runs, as discussed above. The bucket elevatorsare used in machines that may put out hundreds to thousands of pounds ofshot per minute. These technologies are both single pick-up and singledrop-off. In an effort to overcome the one-source to one-destinationshortcoming, these systems stack all their equipment and use gravity toconvey between items. Consequently, very tall machines must be employedthat have only one flow path the media can follow. Conventional shotpeen systems are thus typically enormous, expensive, and limited toconveying media with a single pick-up and drop-off.

Accordingly, novel systems and apparatuses for conveying multiple mediaswith minimization or elimination of cross-contamination, with multiplepick-up and drop-off locations, and compact size are therefore desired.

SUMMARY

One exemplary embodiment of the disclosed subject matter is a systemincluding a conveying tank and a media distribution valve incommunication with the conveying tank. The media distribution valvepreferably comprises a vertical central passageway, a first particulatemedia resistant valve connected to and angled away from the verticalcentral passageway, a second particulate media resistant valve connectedto and angled away from the vertical central passageway, and a thirdparticulate media resistant valve connected to and extending axiallyaway from the vertical central passageway.

Another exemplary embodiment of the disclosed subject matter is a systemcomprising a screen, a conveying tank disposed proximate the screen forcontaining media, a working fluid inlet in communication with theconveying tank for pushing media out of the conveying tank, and a mediadistribution valve in communication with the conveying tank.

A further exemplary embodiment of the disclosed subject matter is asystem comprising a conveying tank, a media distribution valve incommunication with the conveying tank, and a media receiver incommunication the media distribution valve, wherein the media receiveris configured to receive media centripetally, whereby received mediaspirals around an inner wall of the media receiver while slowing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Some non-limiting exemplary embodiments of the disclosed subject matterare illustrated in the following drawings. Identical or duplicate orequivalent or similar structures, elements, or parts that appear in oneor more drawings are generally labeled with the same reference numeral,optionally with an additional letter or letters to distinguish betweensimilar objects or variants of objects, and may not be repeatedlylabeled and/or described. Dimensions of components and features shown inthe figures are chosen for convenience or clarity of presentation. Forconvenience or clarity, some elements or structures are not shown orshown only partially and/or with different perspective or from differentpoint of views.

FIG. 1 is a view of a media conveying system according to an embodimentof the inventions disclosed herein showing an example configuration;

FIG. 2 is a cross-section view of the media conveying system illustratedin FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a detailed view of certain components of the media conveyingsystem illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-section view of the media distribution valveillustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of certain components of the mediaconveying system illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the front of a media conveying systemaccording to another embodiment of the inventions disclosed herein; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the back of the conveying systemillustrated in FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A general problem in the field of conveying systems is the use ofnegative pressure or bucket elevators that pick up media from only asingle location and drop off media to only a single location. A generalsolution is the use of a positive pressure conveying system with valvingthat advantageously allows for multiple pick-up locations and multipledrop-off locations.

A technical problem in the field of media conveying systems is conveyingmore than one media type from more than single pick-up location to morethan a single drop-off location. A technical solution implementing thespirit of the disclosed inventions is the use of a media distributionvalve in communication with conveying tanks having different mediacontained therein and media receivers to receive the various medias.

Potential benefits of the general and technical solutions provided bythe disclosed subject matter include those identified above plus minimal(or zero) cross-contamination of different media. The disclosedinventions also advantageously have the ability to handle an unlimitednumber of sources and deliver them to one or more destinations in oneconveying system. Moreover, the disclosed inventions are small comparedto conventional negative pressure or bucket conveying systems that aretypically large and expensive.

A general non-limiting overview of practicing the present disclosure ispresented below. The overview outlines exemplary practice of embodimentsof the present disclosure, providing a constructive basis for variantand/or alternative and/or divergent embodiments, some of which aresubsequently described.

FIG. 1 is a view of a media conveying system according to an embodimentof the inventions disclosed herein showing an example configuration.Turning in detail to FIG. 1, a media conveying system 100 may be seenhaving a media receiver 102 in communication with a media storage hopper104. The media receiver 102 may receive media that may be abrasive ornon-abrasive materials including but not limited to (1) typically highlypure, micron-size fine powders (usually 10 to 150 microns) formed fromsuch materials as crushed glass, silicon carbide, and aluminum oxide;(2) micron-size shot peening material (typically 150 microns or finer)such as glass bead or zirconia media; or (3) standard-sized shot peeningmaterial (typically 0.007 in to 0.060 in) such as cast or wrought steel,stainless steel, glass bead, or zirconia; or (4) any combination of theabove. Advantageously, the conveying systems disclosed herein have notheoretical upper limit concerning the size of the media to be conveyed.

The media storage hopper 104, which may be supported by frame member168, is in communication with a conveying tank 108. A particulate mediaresistant valve 106 is disposed between hopper 104 and tank 108.Conveying tank 108 is in communication with a media distribution valve110 via a hose 132. Hose 132, as with other hoses used herein, may beflexible or rigid.

Media received via media receiver 102 may enter hopper 104, pass throughvalve 106, and held within tank 108 to be conveyed through mediadistribution valve 110 to another destination. FIG. 1 illustrates such adestination may be a second media receiver 118, media receiver 102, or adrain valve 148 to an unspecified destination. However, any number ofdestinations may be configured, such as to a blast dispenser unit, awaste drum, etc. Moreover, the particular configuration shown in FIG. 1is merely illustrative in that hose 132 need not be connected to mediadistribution valve 110 but instead may be connected directly to a mediareceiver or merely used as a hose to move media into a storage barrel,for example.

The wide-ranging uses of the disclosed inventions are furtherexemplified when more than one media source is inputted through a mediadistribution valve resulting in the ability to handle an unlimitednumber of sources and deliver them to one or more destinations in theconveying system. FIG. 1 shows an example of how a second media sourcemay be inputted into and through the media distribution valve 110. FIG.1 particularly illustrates a second media receiver 118 in communicationwith a second media storage hopper 116. The media storage hopper 116,which may be supported by frame member 170, is in communication with asecond conveying tank 112. A particulate media resistant valve 114 isdisposed between hopper 116 and tank 112. Conveying tank 112 is incommunication with media distribution valve 110 via a hose 136. As withthe first conveying tank 108 arrangement, media input into mediadistribution valve 110 from conveying tank 112 may advantageously beoutput out of media distribution valve 110 to any destination, such asmedia receiver 102, media receiver 118, or out drain 148. Again, theparticular configuration shown in FIG. 1 is merely illustrative in thatother destinations may be configured through valve 110. Indeed, hose 136need not be connected to media distribution valve 110 but instead may beconnected directly to a media receiver or merely used as a hose to movemedia into a storage barrel, for example.

Conveying system 100 also includes a working fluid inlet 128 incommunication with conveying tank 108 to allowing a working fluid topush media out of tank 108 and through hose 132 to reach the mediadistribution valve 110. The working fluid is preferably clean, dry air.Conveying tank 108 preferably includes a “full” sensor to tellelectronics (now shown) when to close particulate media distributionvalve 106 to start conveying. Alternatively, sensor 124 may be a levelsensor. Similar to conveying tank sensor 124, storage hopper 104 maycontain a “full” sensor 120 to tell electronics (not shown) that thisdestination should not receive any more media. Alternatively, sensor 120may be a level sensor. As seen on the right side of FIG. 1, conveyingtank 112 may also include a sensor 126, and storage hopper 116 mayinclude a storage hopper sensor 122.

The disclosed inventions may use a media distribution valve having anynumber of inputs and outputs. FIGS. 1, 2, and 4 illustrate an examplemedia distribution valve 110 comprising two input valves 134 and 138,two output valves 146 and 142, and a drain valve 148. Hose 132 connectsconveying tank 108 to input valve 134, whereas hose 136 connectsconveying tank 112 to input valve 138. A hose 140 connects output valve142 to media receiver 102, whereas hose 144 connects output valve 146 tomedia receiver 118.

FIG. 2 is a cross-section view of the system 100 illustrated in FIG. 1.As seen in FIG. 2, storage hopper 104 preferably includes a conic bottom150 to help feed media stored in storage hopper 104 through theparticulate media valve 106 and into conveying tank 108. Conveying tank108 also has a conic bottom 152 with a port 154 in communication withworking fluid inlet 128 and a tank fitting 156, which in turn connectshose 132 to conveying tank 108. A similar arrangement exists withstorage hopper 116 and conveying tank 112, as shown on the right side ofFIG. 2 illustrating a working fluid inlet 130 in communication with tank112.

FIG. 2 also illustrates how media may be moved from conveying tank 108to media receiver 118. In particular, gravity draws media (not shown)stored in storage hopper 104 through particulate media resistant valve106 (shown open in FIG. 2) into conveying tank 108. Sensor 124 detectswhen the tank 108 is full to close valve 106. With valve 106 shut, airpressure is applied opposite the tank exit 154 via air inlet 128 to pushmedia out fitting 156 and into hose 132. The media then travels throughmedia distribution valve 110 via valve 134 and valve 146 (valves 138,142, and drain valve 148 are closed as seen in FIG. 2) through hose 144and into media receiver 118, where it falls into storage hopper 116.

FIG. 3 is a detailed view of certain components of the media dispensingsystem 100 illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 particularly shows particulatemedia resistant valve 106 and conveying tank 108. The preferredarrangement of particulate media resistant valve 106 is a pneumaticpinch valve. A pinch valve is preferred as it has a constant internaldiameter with few nooks and crannies in which media may be trapped.Moreover, a pinch valve is able to close on a solid column of media,while also being relatively inexpensive and reliable. However, for anyof the embodiments disclosed herein that utilize a pinch valve, othervalves such as flapper valves, butterfly valves, poppet valves, or thelike may be used.

Turning in detail to FIG. 3, particulate media resistant valve 106 mayinclude a housing 158 containing a flexible sleeve 162 therein. Thesleeve 162 has a receptor 164 about one end. Receptor 164 is preferablyconic to eliminate places where media may collect. An air inlet 166 isdisposed about the housing 158. In operation, once sensor 124 tells thecontrol electronics (not shown) that the conveying tank 108 is full,then a remote air valve (not shown) is actuated to pass air throughinlet 166 into housing 158. The area 160 inside the housing 158 butoutside the sleeve 162 is then pressurized. This pressure causes thesleeve 162 to collapse and close (note, sleeve 162 in FIG. 3 is shownopen). If any media is in the sleeve 162, the sleeve 162 will collapseon that media. Doing so prevents additional media from entering into theconveying tank 108. Once the sleeve 162 is closed, then as discussedabove, push-air is applied through inlet 128 to convey media throughhose 132 and media distribution valve 110. Inlet 128 is preferably atthe bottom of conveying tank 108 in line with port 154 directly acrossfrom the exit of tank 108 to shoot air through the solid mass of mediaand directly into the conveying tube 132, leaning out the mixture andmaking the conveying very smooth. A flow meter (not shown) is preferablyin communication with the working fluid inlet 128 to monitor how muchpush-air is being used. When the conveying path(108-132-110-destination) goes empty, the resistance the media added tothe air stream disappears and the air consumption goes up. This eventtriggers when to stop pushing air through inlet 128.

FIG. 4 is a cross-section view of the media distribution valve 110illustrated in FIG. 1. As seen in FIG. 4, media distribution valve 110may comprise a vertical central passageway 190 in communication with oneor more valves, such as input valves 134 and 138, output valves 142 and146, and a drain 148. In particular, vertical central passageway 190 maybe seen having a top end and an opposing bottom end, a first particulatemedia resistant valve 134 connected to and angled away from the top endof the vertical central passageway 190, a second particulate mediaresistant valve 138 connected to and angled away from the top end of thevertical central passageway 190, a third particulate media resistantvalve 142 connected to and angled away from the bottom end of thevertical central passageway 190, a fourth particulate media resistantvalve 146 connected to and angled away from the bottom end of thevertical central passageway 190, and a fifth particulate media resistantvalve 148 connected to the bottom end of the vertical central passageway190. The fifth particulate media resistant valve 148 is preferablyaxially aligned with and extends downward from the vertical centralpassageway 190. The particular geometry illustrated in FIG. 4 is helpfulto help minimize any residual media that may need to be discardedthrough drain 148.

The top end of the vertical central passageway 190 may include anauxiliary air port 196 to provide air to clean out the mediadistribution valve 110 when conveying media sensitive tocross-contamination. To do so, valve 148 is open while all others 134,138, 142, and 146 are closed to permit any residual media in the mediavalve 110 to be dumped to any desired destination out drain port 206.Alternatively, air port 196 may serve to apply extra conveying air forlong runs.

Similar to particulate media resistant valve 106, valves 134, 138, 142,146, and 148 are each preferably pneumatic pinch valves though othersuitable valves may be used. Similar to particulate media resistantvalve 106, valves 134, 138, 142, 146, and 148 may each include a housingthat contains a pressurizable sleeve formed therein and an inlet (notshown) for pressurizing the housing to cause the sleeve to collapse andshut. In particular, valve 134 (shown open in FIGS. 2 and 4) maycomprise housing 174 containing sleeve 176. Valve 138 (shown closed inFIGS. 2 and 4) may comprise housing 186 containing sleeve 188. Valve 142(shown closed in FIGS. 2 and 4) may comprise housing 180 containingsleeve 182. Valve 146 (shown open in FIGS. 2 and 4) may comprise housing194 containing sleeve 198. Valve 148 (shown closed in FIGS. 2 and 4) maycomprise housing 200 containing sleeve 204.

The internal geometry with the media distribution valve that sees flowis preferably a constant cross section to minimize places for media toget trapped. The design of system 100 uses ½″ ID hose, Swagelokfittings, ½″ pinches, and ½″ port sizes. However, the exact choice ofdiameter is not critical and can be sized for required flow rates.

Typical operation of system 100 involves having all but one input closedand one output closed, such as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4 whereinvalve 138 is closed and valve 142 is closed. With this arrangement, themedia then flows down at an angle through the inlet valve 134 and port,vertically down the central passageway 190, and then up at an angle outthe outlet port and valve 146. Any media that inadvertently finds itsway into closed ports will fall back into the stream because of theangle. When the conveying tank 108 runs empty, valves 134, 138, 142, and146 are closed. About a thimble-full of media may remain at the bottomof the vertical central passageway 190 atop the drain valve 148. Forusers concerned with cross-contamination, the drain pinch 148 may beopened and the auxiliary air port 196 actuated to clean out the mediadistribution valve 110. Extra-thorough cleanout may require valves 134,138, 142, and 146 to be temporarily opened and then closed to releaseany media that may be wedged into the pinch valve folds. All sensors,valves, and air flows are preferably controlled from one centrallocation and a computer, although such control need not be centralizedand not be via a computer but via other means such as a programmablelogic controller or manual actuation.

The number of inlets and outlets of a media distribution valve of thedisclosed inventions may vary depending on system requirements. Theconstruction of the body of a media distribution valve of the disclosedinventions may also vary. For example, media distribution valve 110 seenin FIG. 1 may be a 2-in and 2-out cast design, whereas mediadistribution valve 314 seen in FIG. 6 is a 6-in and 6-out billet designmachined from aluminum. Wear will be minimized with harder metals, buteven aluminum gives good performance due to the slow speed of the media.Moreover, the inlets and outlets of a media distribution valve may allexist on one level with only a very short central passageway between theauxiliary air port and drain pinch, such as air port 196 and drain pinch148 seen in FIG. 4. This arrangement may be more convenient or lesscostly in some cases but may result in more than a thimble of mediabeing left over. The media distribution valve may grow very large ifmany ports are needed with such an arrangement.

The conveying systems disclosed herein advantageously may employnumerous media distribution valves in any one system. Such anarrangement is useful if the number of inputs and outputs get so high asto make the body of the media distribution valve unwieldy. Moreover,such an arrangement is also useful if the user wishes to convey mediasimultaneously along multiple paths.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of certain components of the mediaconveying system illustrated in FIG. 1. Turning in detail to FIG. 5,media receiver 118 can be seen having a fitting 210 configured toreceive hose 144. Hose 144 is preferably connected so it emerges tangentto the inside surface 208 of the media receiver 118. The hose 144terminates to atmosphere. The pressure delta between the conveying tankand receiver 118 is what causes the media to flow. The mediaparticularly comes out the hose 144 and slides along the inside of thereceiver 118 and falls downward. Such a centripetal media receiver 118advantageously minimizes wear on the media receiver 208 and the mediaitself. Multiple fittings 210 are possible on one media receiver toenable receipt from multiple sources.

A dust collection tube (not shown) may also be connected to the top ofthe media receiver 118 to remove the conveying air and any dust it maycontain. Alternately, the top of the media receiver 118 could beconnected to a filter, or even left open to the room. Media receiver 118is preferably a steel tube. Media receiver 102 preferably has anidentical arrangement as media receiver 118.

FIGS. 6 and 7 are front and back perspective views, respectively, of amedia conveying system according to another embodiment of the inventionsdisclosed herein. The illustrated system 300 is similar to system 100disclosed above in that system 300 includes a conveying tank (such astank 328, 330, 332, 348, 350, or 356) in communication with a mediadistribution valve (such as valve 314) and a media receiver (such as316, 340, 342, or 352) to convey media as desired. System 300 alsoincludes other components that advantageously allow the system toclassify media for use/re-use in the system or to discard mediadepending on system requirements. Indeed, system 300 nicely fills theneed of a user having a variety of parts that require different blastingor peening recipes, including different media sizes.

Turning in detail to FIGS. 6 and 7, system 300 comprises a conveyingtank 328 connected to an inlet valve (not indicated) of the mediadistribution valve 314 via a hose (not shown). Similar to system 100,media received via a media receiver, such as media receiver 316, mayenter a media storage hopper, such as hopper 320, pass through aparticulate media resistant valve, such as valve 334, and held withintank 328 to be conveyed through the media distribution valve, such asmedia distribution valve 314, to another destination. For example, mediamay be conveyed from tank 328 through valve 314 through a hose (notshown) connected to a media receiver, such as media receiver 340 ofblast dispenser unit 306 illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7. As system 300also allows media to be classified, a screen process unit 318 having oneor more screens (not shown) to take out over-sized and under-sized mediaparticles may be disposed between the media receiver 316 and storagehopper 320.

System 300 may also comprise a second conveying tank 330 connected to aninlet valve (not indicated) of the media distribution valve 314 via ahose (not shown). Similar to the arrangement with conveying tank 328,conveying tank 330 is preferably disposed beneath its own particulatemedia resistant valve (not shown), which is preferably disposed beneathits own media storage hopper 322. Storage hopper 322 is preferably incommunication with screen process unit 318 that receives media via mediareceiver 316. Media received therein passes through screen process unit318, and depending on the size of the media, may pass into media storagehopper 322, through the particulate media resistant valve associatedwith conveying tank 330 to be conveyed through the media distributionvalve 314 to another destination. For example, media may be conveyedfrom tank 330 through valve 314 through a hose (not shown) connected toa media receiver, such as media receiver 342 of blast dispenser unit 308illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7.

System 300 may also comprise a third conveying tank 332 connected to aninlet valve (not indicated) of the media distribution valve 314 via ahose (not shown). Similar to the arrangement with conveying tanks 328and 330, conveying tank 332 is preferably disposed beneath its ownparticulate media resistant valve (not indicated), which is preferablydisposed beneath its own media storage hopper (not indicated). Thisstorage hopper is preferably in communication with screen process unit318 that receives media via media receiver 316. Media received thereinpasses through screen process unit 318, and depending on the size of themedia, may pass into a media storage hopper, through the particulatemedia resistant valve associated with conveying tank 332 to be conveyedthrough the media distribution valve 314 to another destination. Forexample, media may be conveyed from tank 332 through valve 314 through ahose (not shown) connected to a media receiver, such as media receiver340 or 342 illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7.

The screen process unit 318 may also be in communication with a wastedrum, such as waste drum 326. Media receiver 316, screen process unit318, associated hoppers and waste drum 326, as well as associatedconveying tanks may be supported by frame member 336, all of which maybe situated on top of a palette 338 to comprise a screen classifier 312.Again, the system 300 is merely illustrative in that additional screenclassifiers are possible with any number of associated hoppers.

System 300 may also comprise a fourth conveying tank 348 connected to aninlet valve (not indicated) of the media distribution valve 314 via ahose (not shown). Similar to the arrangement with conveying tanks 328,330, and 332, conveying tank 348 is preferably disposed beneath its ownparticulate media resistant valve 380, which is preferably disposedbeneath its own media storage hopper 344. Media received in storagehopper 344 may pass through particulate media resistant valve 380 andinto conveying tank 348 to be conveyed through the media distributionvalve 314 to another destination. For example, media may be conveyedfrom tank 348 through valve 314 through a hose (not shown) connected tomedia receiver 316, as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7.

System 300 may also comprise a fifth conveying tank 350 connected to aninlet valve (not indicated) of the media distribution valve 314 via ahose (not shown). Similar to the arrangement with conveying tanks 328,330, 332, and 348, conveying tank 350 is preferably disposed beneath itsown particulate media resistant valve 382, which is preferably disposedbeneath its own media storage hopper 346. Media received in storagehopper 346 may pass through particulate media resistant valve 382 andinto conveying tank 350 to be conveyed through the media distributionvalve 314 to another destination. For example, media may be conveyedfrom tank 350 through valve 314 through a hose (not shown) connected tomedia receiver 316, as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7. As shown in FIGS. 6and 7, components 344, 380, 344, 346, 382, and 346 are part of anautomated blast chamber 310 having a clear door 356.

Blast chamber 310 is preferably in communication with one or more blastdispenser units such as units 306 and 308 illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7.These figures particularly illustrate that the blast dispensers 306 and308 are preferably the novel media dispensing units for precisely,consistently, and reliably propelling a wide range of particulate mediadisclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13,772,624, assigned tothe assignee of the present application, Comco Inc., and incorporated byreference in its entirety.

System 300 may also comprise an optional spiral separator 304. Spiralseparator 304 may comprise a sixth conveying tank 356 connected to aninlet valve (not indicated) of the media distribution valve 314 via ahose (not shown) to be conveyed to another destination. For example,media may be conveyed from tank 356 through valve 314 to media receiver316. Spiral separator 304 may also include a media receiver 352 incommunication with the media distribution valve 314 via one or morehoses (not shown), a spiral process unit 354 for removing out-of-roundparticles, and a waste drum 358.

System 300 may also comprise an optional dust collector 302 that mayinclude a media receiver 360, a dust process unit 362, and a waste drum364. Dust collector 302 is ideally connected to each media receiver 352,340, 342, 312 and the automated blast chamber 310 to draw off very finedust that may be generated.

As discussed above, the media distribution valve 314 illustrated inFIGS. 6 and 7 is preferably a 6-in and 6-out billet design machined fromaluminum. Other than the number of inlet and outlets and type ofmaterial used to construct media distribution valve 314, this valve 314is functionally identical to media distribution valve 110 disclosedabove. Similarly, the particulate media resistant valves of system 300are also preferably pneumatic pinch valves like that of system 100. Theconveying tanks of system 300 are also preferably positivelypressurizable like the conveying tanks of system 100. Also like system100, the conveying tanks and storage hoppers of system 300 may includetheir own “full” sensor, level sensor, or the like.

Typical operation of system 300 may involve having a control computer(not shown) of the automated blast chamber 310 select the appropriatestorage hopper associated with screen classifier 312 to fill a blastdispensing unit 306 or 308. The computer commands valves (not shown)housed in a control box (not shown) under the screen process unit 318 toactuate the proper pinch valves and conveying tanks, such as pinch valve334 and conveyor tank 328 to permit media contained with storage hopper320 to fill blast dispensing unit 306, for example. In a similar manner,another storage hopper of screen classifier 312 may be used to fill theother blast dispensing unit 308, for example. After the blast dispensingunits 306 and 308 are filled, they are used to blast or peen partsinside the automated blast chamber 310. Hoppers 344 and 346 on thebottom of the automated blast chamber 310 connect to conveyor tanks 348and 350, respectively. These tanks 348 and 350 then move the media backto the top of the screen classifier 312. Per aerospace or similarspecifications, occasionally the media may need to be run through thespiral separator 304 to remove out-of-round media. To do so, the mediais routed through the media distribution valve 314. Indeed all conveyingtanks and media receivers of system 300 are preferably routed throughmedia distribution valve 314.

While certain embodiments have been described, the embodiments have beenpresented by way of example only and are not intended to limit the scopeof the inventions. Indeed, the novel devices and methods describedherein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, variousomissions, substitutions, and changes in the form of the devices andmethods described herein may be made without departing from the spiritof the inventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents areintended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within thescope and spirit of the inventions.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A system comprising: a conveying tank; anda media distribution valve in communication with the conveying tank,wherein the media distribution valve comprises a vertical centralpassageway, a first particulate media resistant valve connected to andangled away from the vertical central passageway, a second particulatemedia resistant valve connected to and angled away from the verticalcentral passageway, and a third particulate media resistant valveconnected to and extending axially away from the vertical centralpassageway; said tank feeding to the media distribution valve, and ablast dispenser being fed by the media distribution valve.
 2. The systemof claim 1, wherein the first particulate media resistant valve is apinch valve.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the media distributionvalve further comprises an auxiliary air port connected to the verticalcentral passageway.
 4. The system of claim 1, further comprising aworking fluid inlet in line with a bottom port of the conveying tank. 5.The system of claim 4, further comprising a flow meter in communicationwith the working fluid inlet.
 6. The system of claim 1, furthercomprising a conveying tank sensor in communication with the conveyingtank to detect media level within the conveying tank.
 7. The system ofclaim 1, further comprising a pinch valve in communication with theconveying tank to control entry of media into the conveying tank.
 8. Thesystem of claim 7, further comprising a media storage hopper disposedabout the pinch valve, and a media storage hopper sensor incommunication with the media storage hopper to detect media level withinthe media storage hopper.
 9. The system of claim 1, further comprising ablast chamber in communication with the blast dispenser and the mediadistribution valve, and a screen classifier in communication with themedia distribution valve.